Pattern-controlled stop mechanism for knitting-machines.



APPLICATION FILED MAB. 30, 1914.

Patented Sept. 15. 1914I 2 SHBETS-BBEET 1.

/Mh/j/NVENTOR ATTORNE Y i A. GEB.

PATTERN CONTROLLBD STOP MEGHANISM POR` KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, so, 1914. 1 1 10,322.

Patented Sept. 15. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

'UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

ALBERT GEE, OF

OAK LANE, PENNSYLVANIA, 4ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM PARK MOORE, 0F ELKIN S PARK, PENNSYLVANIA.

PATTERN-CONTROLLE) STOP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pattern-Controlled Stop Mechanism .for Knitting-lllchines. of which the following is a specification.

f-fllly invention has relation to a pattern controlled stop mechanism for a kiitting inachine so arranged as -to regulate the length ofthe stocking and automatically to control such "length o? the stocking in the knitting thereof and in stopping kof the machine to prevent back-lash, to thereby avoid breaking .or twistinglot sinkers and needles of the machine. -My invention stated in general tei-ins, con- `siists (ifmechanism constructively arranged chine in' substantially the manner l'ierein-A and applied to preferably a flat knitting inalifter;. described and claimed. "'Tlieniture, scope and particular features of ythemechanism embodying my- Asaid-invenftiongfin a preferred form thereof, 'will be' .-ijniofe'"fullyfnnderstood from the folloijvingy desfnription taken in connection with the accoiiipan'ing drawings forming part hereof,

in'ivhic f Figure 1, is av front elevational lview of a p 'i'tion of a well known type of flat knitting machine with the mechanism i-n part for`r automatically' contro-lling the length of the hoisery in the knitting thereof in conjunctio'nwitli the other part of the mechanism desi ned to prevent back-lash in the stopping of t e knitting machine, embodying in constrnctve detail the essential niain'features ot' my''said invention. l tionhl view 'on the line fc, m, of Fig. 1, lookingfto the right, ot' the said automatic controlling' mechanism. lf ig. 3, is a vertical sectioii'o'ii the line y, y, of Fig. 1, looking to the left, 0f thesaid mechanism. Fig. 4. is a fragmentary detail in elevation and on an enlarged scale of the ratchet ine'iiihers of said mechanism. Fig. 5, is a vertical sectional vie'w in detail of the ratchet members of Fig. 4. ZvFig. (i, is a vertical sectionali'view in detail on the line .2, 2, of Fig. 1, illustrating the member to prevent back-lash of said mecha-v nism. Fig. 7, is a detail sectional elevation of one of the pins ot' the pa wl device of the member to prevent, back-lash. Fig. 8. is a perspective view of the locking .device con- Specication of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2, is a vertical secf Patented sept, 115, 1914.

Application led March 30, 1914. Serial No. 8223.297.V

nected with a shifting lever for stopping the knitting machine; and Figs. t) 'and 10, are respectively perspective views of lugs mount- I ed on plates connected with a sprocket-chain to control the length of the stocking being knit as well as the stopping of the machine. which latter in tiirxi controls thereby anioinatically any tendency to back-lash of the machine. v v

Referring to the drawings A, is one of the end frames and A, a cross-frame connected therewith et a well known type of flat knitting machine and which machine to such extent only has been shown as necessary, to illustrate the application ofmy present invention thereto. I.

,is the main driving shaft ofthe machine and a2, the cani-shaft, both jonrnaled in the said end frames. A shifting rod a3, is located above the driving shafta, and. is slid- ,ably mounted inthe said end" frames A, for shifting the driving belt from a loose to a fast pulley, not shown, lint which aregmounted on the extremity` of said shaft for starting and stopping the said machine, y Moiinted on the cross-frame A1, of the machine is a stand-` ard b, in which is fastened a stud bf, carrying ratchets b2 and 1;, and a sprocket-wheel b4. A chain b5, of any predetermined length engages a. sprocket-wheel b, secured to a chinc or for cont-rolling automatically vthe length ot' the stocking in the. knittin of the saine or for preventing back-lash in t e stopping of the said machine. v

(ln the cani-shaft a2, is mounted a. cani c,

operating a roller c, journaled in one meinber of 'a V-shaped bracket or rocker-arm c, pivoted at c, to a standard c, which latter is mounted on thc cross-frame the other member of the V-siiaped bracket or rockerarni 1"". is pn ided with tivo paivls c and (-f said pawl c", is arranged to engage the riit4- twheel fr, and the pawl c. is so arrangtti as to engage at certain times both 4 An additional friction spring b, is mounted automatic control mechanism is provided 'ratchets b2 and b3. A spring c", at one end is l attached to the V-shaped bracket or rockerarm c2, and at its other end it is attached to a stationary part of the machine. This spring-is provided to maintain the roller f", in surface contact with the cam c, andto support the pawls c5 and c, in a position to be operative. Springs es and c", are connected at one of their ends with the respective pawls c5 land c, and at their opposite ends to. parts of the V-shaped bracket orrocker-arm c2. These springs normally hold the awls in engagement with the respective rate ets 4b2 and b3.. As the cam c, is rotated by the cam-shaft a2,` the V-shaped bracket or rocker-arm c2, is oscillated about its pivot c, so as to cause a vertical movement of the pawls c and c, and by engaging notches of the respective ratchets and b3, to causel one or both ratchets to be revolved on the stud b,"in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. The ratchet b3, is held in frictional engagement with the ratchet b2, by means of the leaf spring Zi, and is rigidly .attached to the sprocket-wheel (1*, by means of bolts om? between the sprocket-wheel b, and the standard t, to hold the Said sprocket-wheel free from rotation, except when positively turned by the ratchet-wheel b, and during the time the ratchet-wheel in action. The chain If', is mounted on the said sprocket-Wheel b4, and is caused to travel in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l, so as to permit the lugs bs, of said chain to' operate to stop the' machine and also to determine with precision any required length of stockings that are being knit and so that all of them will be exactly alike in length. ln order to avoid the use of undue length of sprocket-chain for operation, the said with a 1atchetwl1cel b", of greater diameter than the ratchet-wheel b3, and while having the/Same number of teeth, one tooth b, however, of the ratchet-wheel b2, is of ,ereaterdepth than the rest so as to allow the pawl r, to engage both ratchets at the same time, when the said pawl in the travel of the said ratchets reaches the said 'deep tooth Il", of the wheel b2. During the. knitting of a certain portion of the stocking, for instance, the wclt or heel. it is unnecessary to revolve the sprocket and which if continuously revolved would require an undue length of chain land to prevent the use of such an undue lengthof chain, the pawl cf', is disengaged from thc ratchet b3, hy means l of an extension l, on one of the lugs b5, contacting with the nose ot' the said pawl. .\t the time the pant ci', is disengaged the pawl will continlul lo operate upon the ratchet and revolve said ratchet, inden pendenlly of the ratchet Il, and sprocketwheel b, until the deep tooth 71"'. arrives at a position to receive the nose of the pawl w, which will now engage both ratchet-s causing the extension b", to move from under the pawl o", to thus allow this pawl to engage the ratchet b3, and thereby to revolve the sprocket b", thus moving the chain b, until another lug be, having an extension b, comes in contact with the pawl c, to disengage the same. It willfbe understood that a series of extensions b, may be provided,vone directly behind the other, so that the pawl c5, may be freed from. operatinii;` upon the ratchet b3, at very close intervals', according to the work to be performed upon the stocking being knit in the machine.

In order toxavoid the cant-ion or care that at present has to be exercised by operatives ,in stopping thermachine for any canse, for

instance, either -becausethe vrequired welt, heel or' leg has been knit, and so thatl they respectively will not be of unequal lengths,

or one longer than the other, as is invariably.

the case in the operation of atknitting machines in the knitting of hosiery at the pres cnt time. T have provided the machine with' stop mechanism operative conjointlyv with the mechanism hereinbefore described for regulating and controlling `automatically the exact length of any part. of the stocking inuit: the same consisting of means, as folows:

Ucrtain of the lugs bs, outhe chain b", are, so arranged as to contact with one end of a weighted lever d, which is pivoted at rl, to a standard (Z2, supported by the crossframe A, the opposite end of the said lever rl, being formed into a hook (la, engaging a colnplemental hook (17.*, attachedto the shiftingr lever d, havingr an universal connection d, at the lower extremity thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. l. Opposite the cam-shaft is approxiinateb1 a horizontal line therewith. the lever. 07.5, has mounted thereon rollers (Z7 and d, contacting with a double edge cam d, the edge di", of the said cam open ating upon the'roller (i7, to shift the lever ./Z", to the right, for stopping the machine, while the cam edge d operates upon the roller de, to return the said lever d, to its initial position, being thatillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and with the machine in oper.- ation. (h1 the lhittingefrod a, is mounted a U-shapcd bracket c, surrounding the upper end of the shit'timgr lever d", so that when this lever is shifted to the right by the cam surface all, the rod a, carrying thenbclt shifting fork. not shown, will cause the drivingr belt to be shifted from a fast to a loose pulley. to free the poner from operation of the machine.

(.)n the shifting rod 1.3, is secured a ta percd lng r11, which may be moved from un! dcr-a finger a2, secured to a pawl es, pivoted at (d. to a ha r c, of the machine. vAt the time the belt is shifted to release the power, the lug a', moved from under the to alli'my the pawl e, to engage the "i le occur, the paivl e?. will immediately` v a tooth oi' the ratchet e, to prevent hvuch swart nnivement and thus any pcs- .-;1: ilitjty ci the sinners, sie., being stripped er broken er the knitting needles rendered unfit 'for subsequent use in the machine.

'in the pawi c3, is 'provided a plurality of pins si?. adjustalfy :wranged in the cxtreme poition et' the said pil-fri, sai that one or the other ci the series of pins is always ready to innin-diately engage a tooth of the said ratchet e, to prevent retrograde movement thereof. To enable the machine to be quiciiy Vstopped after vthe belt has been shifted a ieather friction or other preferred t5-pe ci brake j is employed. This brake surminnie the driviang; shaft c, and is held in endif ge rent therewith, by means of a spiit echar f1, he ving eers tc recei the boite as .f'ieai been in Fig. 6. 'V lenire revel vf tue shaft c., until the pawi e3, allowed in engage with the ratchet e", at which time a ing j, mouth-fl on the pai/vl [-3, will engage one ear f2, ci' the said brakedcvicn te cause the same te cease rotating and thin; 'fririifmally stopping the driving shaft fz, o'i the machine. The 'lever fi, is provided with hen med springs il and A haa' rhein extremities conaid 'ramng of the inarines respm iivciy' mainxvf.:.s.i the worin l'. a time when failed f nature and ohi claim ris new ers Patent is;- e. an automatic mechanism of .mmprising a shaft n having a roller said roller acii c Wls at pre- '..ig said rate ets, l spi'wfkct connectA one of mui rah nets and operatingY provided with lugs for at pre i periods t' :ing one of said a n 'ated shit' device rf'vntrolling ne fzfielease sain 'vice and shift and ,t he saine and mefrns m release the vier. subsfantiaily as and for the rmrposes y ,and control the cl'iarsicter describhaving a earn, a rol.: :snai l" 1o grinds. frm ratei i anni and i cnitting machine, a inechani-an of unter described. comprieur.:Y a rotatheir., a roei@ ravin having c, mounted on the driving shaft (L. vdl1 of this rati-.inkt e", are so arranged g as that ang, ni=;\inenunn et' the machine will 1 A 1 er anc fwo parvis, two :ateliers and :il

s )rocket connected with one of said ratchets, said cam operating said roller and `said :kraker-arm causing' said pawls at predetermined periods to engage said ratchets, a .shifting device adapted to engage means to release said device. springs for shifting and a cam for resetting said device and a sprocket-chain having a of lugs adapted to respectiwljw trip one of said pa Wls, substantially as and for the purposes described.

l. in a knitting machine, a mechanismi of the character described, comprising a Vrotatable camshaft. a rocker-arm having a roller and two pawls. two ratchets and a sprocket. connected with one of said ratchets, said cam operating said roller and said rockenarni permitting said paWls at predetermined periods to engage. said ratchets, a pivoted shiftin device, comprising a rocking latch-l1ook adapted to engage a compleinental hook for releasing said device, a cam forshifting and resetting said device and a rod for transmitting motion to power means of the machine for releasing said power, substantially as and for the purposes described.

el. A knitting machine having mechanism cf the. character described and with a shifting device, a rod operated on by said device and having a lug arranged to release a pawl provided with pins and a lug, and said pins adapted to respectively engage a ratchet mounted on the main-shaft of the machine to prevent retrograde movement of the same, and a friction-brake havin ears adapted to engage the lug of said paw to stop the machine, and said brake mounted on said mainshaft, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a knitting machine, ank automatic regulating and controlling mechanism ofthe character described, comprising a rotatable cam-shaft, a rocker-arm having a roller and two pawls, two ratchets, one having a deep zenith, a sprocket connected with one of said ratchets, said roller actuated by said cam, and said pawls at predetermined periods actuating one .or both of said ratchets, a shifting device, and a chain carrying lugs operating to trip one of said pawls and to shiftsaid device, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. In a knitting machine, an automatic regulating and controlling mechanism of the character described, comprising arota table cam-shaft, a rocker-arm having a roller and two pawls, two ratchets, one having a deep notch, a sprocket connected with one of' said ratchets, said roller actuated by said cam, and said pawls at redetermined periods actuating one or th of said ratcliets. a shifting device, a chain carrying ings operating to trip one of said pawls and to shift said device and a brake frictionally fermented with said main shaft and having means for engagin said lu s to stop the machine, substantie ly as an for the purposes described.

7. In a knitting machine, a mechanism of the character described, comprising a rotatable cam-shaft, a rocker-arm having a' roller and two pawls, two ratchets and a sprocket connected with one of said ratchets, said 'cam operating said roller and said rocker-arm permittmgn'said pawls at predetermined eriods to engage said ratchets, a friction evice operatmgon one of said ratchets to maintain alining relationshi) of the teeth of both of said ratchets an an additional frictional device operating on said sprocket to revent rotation of said sprocket and one o said ratchets durin rotation of the other of said ratchets, sustantially as and for the purposes described. l

y8. In a knitting machine, a mechanismrof the character described, comprising a rotatable cam-shaft, a rocker-arm having a roller and two pawls, two ratchets and a sprocket connected with one of said ratchets, said cam operating said roller and said rocker-arm permitting said pawls at redetermined periods to enga e said ratc ets and a shifting device and a ouble face cam 'other to hold said shifting for controlling said device in the shifting and resetting of the same, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

9. In a knitting machine, a mechanism of the character described, comprising a rotatable cam-shaft, a rocker-arm havin a roller and two pawls, said rocker-arm aving a spring for holding said roller in ccntact with said cam, ratchets and a sprocket operated by said ratchets, said cam operating said roller and said rocker-arm permitting said pawls to en age said ratchets, a shifting device, a dongle face cam to shift and reset said device, a spring controlled rod carrying rollers operated on b said cam, said springs supporting said ro ers in contact with said cam, a latch-hook and a complcxnental hook arranged to engage each devlce away from said cam during knitting operations, substantially as and for the purposes described. 1

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses hereto.

ALBERT GEE. xWitnesses:

J. lVlLBER'r BUNTING, WM. S. Asn. 

